PARIS—Francesco Pellegrini has been named the new president of the European Sunglasses Association (ESA).

“I’m honored to be elected as the new ESA president. This is an important role for me and I look forward to fulfilling it and leading the organization in focusing on its primary mission which is ‘Protecting the Eyes With Quality Sunglasses,’” said Pellegrini.

Pellegrini expressed his aim to improve the ESA’s reach by supporting the growth and development of the European sunglass sector and protecting the European sunglass industry. With an active involvement in such topics as European and international standards for sunglasses, ESA will continue to assist members and all interested groups with professional and objective information on all sunglass related matters.

Pellegrini will work with Rod Lane, vice president, ESA and Petra Eckhardt-Köstler, managing director, ESA, to improve the ESA’s activities and ensure its effectiveness in all areas relating to the sunglass sector.

Pellegrini is global sales and marketing director for sunlenses at Intercast Europe, part of the PPG Group. He previously worked in sales and marketing positions in the perfume industry, fashion and luxury retail markets.

ROLAND ALLEN CATHY RAUSCHER

Transitions Taps Allen, Rauscher for SOLFX Team

PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Transitions Optical has announced two appointments to Transitions SOLFX, its global sunwear brand. Roland Allen will assume the role of director, sunwear—EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia Pacific, and Catherine Rauscher has been appointed marketing manager, sunwear.

Both are newly created roles to help drive accelerated growth in the sunwear business. The new sun lens brand, Transitions SOLFX, which debuted in March 2009, includes a family of dynamic sunwear products that self-adjust outdoors with the sun, automatically changing level of darkness and color to provide optimal vision in sun and shade.

Allen, who joined Transitions in 2001, previously held the position of business director for Northern Europe. In his new role, he is responsible for driving sales and earnings growth in the sunwear business in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.

Rauscher, who joined Transitions in 2004 as a production engineer, held various marketing positions within the company and most recently served as associate brand manager. In her new role, Rauscher’s duties will focus on managing the Transitions SOLFX brand.

Both Allen and Rauscher report directly to Grady Lenski, global director, Transitions Sunwear.

Carl Zeiss Meditec Names Regan VP USA Ophthalmic Sales

DUBLIN, Calif.—Jack Regan has been promoted to vice president of USA ophthalmic sales for Carl Zeiss Meditec, according to Joseph Donahoe, Carl Zeiss Meditec's president of the Americas.

Regan, formerly senior regional sales director, succeeds Bob Padula, who will continue to work closely with Carl Zeiss Meditec as founder of a new company, Eye Care Alliance, which will sell certified pre-owned Zeiss equipment.

Regan, whose promotion became effective Oct. 1, joined the company in November 1988 as a regional sales manager from Abbott Laboratories-Diagnostics Division.

MOHINDER MERCHEA, OD

B&L Names Merchea, OD to New Post as Director, Medical Affairs

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Bausch & Lomb has named Mohinder Merchea, OD, director of medical affairs for North American Vision Care, a new position with the company.

In his new role, Merchea will serve as liaison to academic institutions and professional organizations, “communicating with key leaders in the field and representing the views of eyecare professionals to the company,” according to B&L.

Merchea, who has more than 12 years’ experience in medical device clinical research, joined B&L in 2002 as manager of clinical research in refractive technologies. Since 2007, he has led Vision Care, Global Clinical Affairs, for lens and lens-care product development.

CHRIS RICE

Rice Joins VisionWeb as Director of Sales

Austin, Texas—Chris Rice has joined VisionWeb in the newly created position of director of sales, reporting to Ken Engelhart, VisionWeb president and CEO.

Prior to joining VisionWeb, Rice held various sales and marketing positions during 11 years with Jobson Medical Information, serving most recently in the role of director of sales for education and training for 20/20 Magazine.

According to Engelhart, “As the number of eyecare professionals using VisionWeb continues to grow, we need to continue to expand and enhance our selection of available products and services. Chris’ background and industry relationships will be invaluable in helping us move forward in this regard.”

Eyefinity/OfficeMate Expands Staff

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—The Eyefinity/OfficeMate businesses within the VSP Global group of companies is planning to add 23 new positions in early 2010, most at its headquarters here.

The division, which provides online ordering, claims processing, Web-based seminars and resources for more than 26,000 eyecare professionals, is recruiting for 10 of the positions now, ranging from product managers, implementation specialists and coordinators to training specialists, quality assurance specialists and software support representatives. Eyefinity/OfficeMate currently has 177 employees. ■